My small dogs bark at nothing. How can I train them to stop?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behaviors can be corrected but this usually requires in person training by a qualified dog trainer. I recommend you consider contacting a qualified dog trainer to work with you in person. Good luck and have a good day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Almost any behavior can be resolved with training and behavior modification. I would highly recommend you consider contacting a local dog trainer who can work with you in person as that is needed. This should work but it will take time and persistence and of course a professional working with you both. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can indeed be fixed. However, this does require training in person with a qualified dog trainer. I would recommend you contact a dog trainer that can work with you in person. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually these behavioral issues can be corrected but it does require time and patience. I highly recommend that you find a qualified dog trainer that can help her as this will usually take a professional to help. Good luck and have a good day!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Charlie is barking so much at the construction. Since it is such a new, loud noise, he is not used to hearing it yet. My best advice is for you to ignore the noise - the less you react to the noise, Charlie will realize that it is not a big deal. It may take 2-3 days for him to adjust. If after this time, he is still barking incessantly, I recommend asking your veterinarian about a calming medication he/she could prescribe for the short term. A good example is Trazodone. I hope this is helpful!

Hi there! Aggression issues in dogs can be really frustrating. One of my dogs sounds pretty similar to Sammi, so I sympathize. Many dogs that are showing signs of aggression are truly anxious and unable to control their emotions. Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications can be used both long and short term to help them learn to process their emotions while in a calmer state. Commonly used drugs for this purpose are Prozac, Trazodone, and Gabapentin. I would recommend calling your vet and asking if they see behavior consultations or if they have any recommendations for a board certified veterinary behaviorist (someone who goes to three more years of school after vet school just to study behavior). I would also encourage you to use only trainers that focus on positive reinforcement learning. Fear tactic training can make aggressive dogs much worse. A good trainer can talk to you about helping your dog learn to focus on you during stressful situations and better their impulse control, to minimize these situations in the future. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is not that the other dogs are influencing Oscar. It is just that they cause just enough excitement or anxiety (or both) for him to forget his training and to get to more of a “fight or flight” stage. A little anti-anxiety medication or slower introduction to your sisters dogs when you visit may help. A vibrating collar to get his attention and then a command (come, sit, etc) with a treat can help refocus his attention and calm his emotions.